Building Confidence and a Career

Din Nguyen (‘24) didn’t always imagine himself working at a dynamic company like Medtronic. In fact, there was a time when just the thought of meeting people face-to-face left him with shaky hands and a racing heart. An introvert who struggled with social anxiety, Din found his path to a career in information technology at the University of Minnesota to be as much about building confidence as it was about honing technical skills. 

Confidence, Connections, and Career Wins

Din transferred to the U’s computer science program in 2021 and, a couple years later, into the Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology Infrastructure (ITI) program in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS). The program has a broad approach to technology, combining business and IT courses for a well-rounded and foundational education. 

“The ITI program offers sub plans that students can focus on such as cloud, systems, security, networking, etc.,” says Din. “I primarily focused on the security route but I took other classes that also went through cloud computing principles.”

While Din found his academic footing, one challenge lingered: public speaking. “I’ve always been super introverted,” Din admitted. “I didn’t really like to talk to people. My head would get hot, my hands would shake—it was like my mind would just go blank.”

To gain some confidence, Din joined several student organizations to practice interacting with others. By his junior year, he was ready to turn his focus on getting an internship and sought the help of Career and Internship Services. Working closely with career counselor Liz Hruska, Din practiced mock interviews and presentation skills. 

“Liz really helped me get more comfortable,” he said. “We did a lot of mock interviews, and she gave me tips, like standing in a confident posture before interviews to calm my nerves. It sounds simple, but it really helped.”

Liz also introduced Din to the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure his responses during interviews. “Before working with her, I was all over the place in interviews,” he admitted. “But learning how to organize my answers made a big difference. I felt more in control.”

Din says he applied for a lot of internships. He also attended a career fair, where he met with representatives from his number-one choice: Medtronic. He followed up with informal chats over coffee with the Medtronic reps he had met at the fair, getting advice on how to prepare for an interview. “I was really nervous going into it,” he recalls of the internship interview. “I had already gotten a lot of ‘no’s. But all that matters is that I got that one ‘yes’.”

Diving Into Cloud Computing

During his internship at Medtronic, Din worked on the company's IT infrastructure team, where he had hands-on experience managing and supporting cloud-based systems. His responsibilities included assisting with cloud migrations, monitoring system performance, and helping troubleshoot issues within Medtronic’s vast network. “I got to work on real projects that impacted the company,” Din shared. “One of the coolest parts was helping with system modernization—seeing how all the pieces fit together sparked my interest in cloud computing.” 

The experience not only deepened his technical skills but also helped him see how IT infrastructure supports critical business operations. “It made me realize this is the kind of work I want to keep doing,” he said.

At the end of the summer, each of about 20 interns had to give a presentation summarizing their internship, which would essentially serve as their application for employment to the company. With so many interns vying for positions, Din was afraid he wouldn’t make the cut. “I was sweating like crazy during my final presentation. I was super nervous, but all the prep I did with Career Services paid off, ” he recalled. “A week later, during the company’s farewell event, my manager pulled me aside and whispered that I would be getting a full-time offer. I was so shocked—I hugged her right there!”

Din credits much of his success to the support he received from Career and Internship Services. “Without Liz helping me prep for interviews and presentations, I don’t think I would’ve made it,” he said. “It wasn’t just about technical skills—it was about learning how to present myself confidently.”

Grateful for Scholarship Support

Another kind of support came in the form of funds from the Karin Larson Scholarship, which Larson, a CCAPS graduate herself, established to increase access to quality education. The gift helped ease Din’s financial burden. 

“I’m so grateful for the scholarship,” he said. “It allowed me to focus more on my classes and less on how I was going to pay for them. It made a big difference.”

Ready to Face the Future

In December of 2024, Din earned his bachelor’s degree in Information Technology Infrastructure and minors in UX and computer science. As he prepares to start Medtronic’s two-year rotational IT program in June, he feels a mix of excitement and nerves. “It’s still a bit surreal,” he said. “But I feel a lot more confident now than when I first started college. If you’d told me back then that I’d be talking to the CEO and landing a full-time job, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

For other students who struggle with confidence or social anxiety, Din has simple advice: “Practice, get help where you need it, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. It’s scary, but it’s worth it.”